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Lauren Peace talks with attorney Sharon Stiller and Michelle Cammarata of Restore Sexual Assault Services about how to identify instances of sexual harassment or assault and what to do about it. Rochester Democrat & Chronicle

"Do you remember tearing my blouse, pulling up my skirt, ripping the back of my shirt and trying to rape me?"

— Interviewer questioning Joseph Bishop

Joseph Layton Bishop lives in a suburban golf resort — a quiet, gated community in south Chandler.

When a stranger knocks, the 85-year-old answers from a back room with an energetic, "Come in." He greets a visitor with a smile, a firm handshake and clear eyes.

For Bishop, a former president of the Mormon Church's Provo, Utah, Missionary Training Center, the serenity of his retirement imploded this week with the release of a recorded interview.

A woman posing as a journalist had claimedto be doing an article on unheralded leaders within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and invited Bishop to meet in a Valley hotel conference room.

In the recorded interview, after gushing about Bishop's service to the church, the woman beginstalking about events more than three decades ago, when she was training at the center in Utah for her work as a missionary. She recalls going to Bishop for counseling because she had been sexually abused by a stepfather.

Over time, she says, Bishop groomed her with flattery and attention, then took her to a basement room and attempted to rape her.

Woman: "I need an admission, and I need to know what was ever done (by church leaders), if anything, because I've carried this and it has destroyed my life. So, do you remember?"

Bishop: "No. Let me tell you what I do remember ..."

The sensational tape sparked national news coverage and drew a response from the Mormon Church. But questions remain about exactly what Bishop admitted to doing, and whether his admissions were credible. Bishop's family, in response, has released information about a string of other unproven assault allegations the woman has made in the past, creating a case that accents the many challenges of claims and credibility in the era of the #MeToo movement.

The Missionary Training Center building in Provo, Utah. The Mormon Church is investigating a former missionary-training center president, Joseph Bishop, who is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in the 1980s, following the release this week of a secret audio recording where he is heard apologizing to her and citing a sex addiction. The allegations are "deeply disturbing" and would lead to formal discipline if true, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in a statement posted to its website on March 20, 2018.(Photo: Sammy Jo Hester/The Daily Herald)

The 55-year-old woman's name is redacted from the recording and transcript. The Arizona Republic spoke with her, but generally does not identify possible victims of sexual assault.

During 2 1/2 hours of wrenching exchanges, a recording of which was posted this week on the website MormonLeaks, the woman berates Bishop as a predator.

She offers him forgiveness.

She threatens exposure, and requests compensation.

She admits threatening to kill Bishop in 2010 — a move she says was a fabrication in an effort to force a response from church officials.

She demands accountability.

She also reviles Mormon Church officials, saying they had done nothing despite repeated complaints over many years.

Bishop, in turn, recalls meeting with the woman at the training center around 1984, and discussing her sexual trauma.

As the woman accuses him, he denies any memory of an assault, but he does not challenge her account. Instead, he apologizes repeatedly, profusely, while explaining that he had recovered from a sexual addiction.

He doesn't detail what that sexual addiction entailed — a point his family now stresses as they deny the allegations of assault.

Bishop: "I have struggled my whole life on this very issue ... I used to say to myself at the time, 'I'm a hypocrite.' "

Woman: "You were."

Bishop: "Yeah, of course ... I am so, so sorry. I'm not just saying that out of fear (of exposure) ... But I am so sorry. Just terrible. Me. It wasn't you. My only — just the fact of addiction."

That exchange was the first of many humbling moments for the former high-profile Mormon Church leader.

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The Gilbert Arizona Temple, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stands at 195 feet tall and 85,326 square feet. The structure, which took three years to complete, opened in early 2014 and was open for public tours for about a month before being formally dedicated in March. Parker Leavitt, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Workers use cranes to attach a gold-leafed statue of the Angel Moroni atop the spire of the Gilbert Arizona Temple, May 12, 2017. The 85,000-square-foot temple, at the corner of Pecos and Greenfield roads, completed construction in early 2014 after three years. Tom Tingle/The Republic

The Gilbert Arizona Temple's interior color palette incorporates soft blue, green, gold and cream, colors of the agave plant. The Gilbert Arizona Temple, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stands at 195 feet tall and 85,326 square feet. The structure, which took three years to complete, opened in early 2014 and was open for public tours for about a month before being formally dedicated that March. David Kadlubowski/The Republic

The Gilbert Arizona Temple baptismal font is built on top of 12 bronze oxen, which is said to be a feature of King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem and represents the 12 tribes of Israel. The 85,000-square-foot structure stands 195 feet tall and opened in early 2014 after three years of construction. Intellectual Reserve, Inc.

The Gilbert Arizona Temple, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stands at 195 feet tall and 85,326 square feet. The structure, which took three years to complete, opened in early 2014 and was open for public tours for about a month before being formally dedicated that March. Charlie Leight/The Republic

The symmetry and colors found in desert plants are apparent in the Gilbert Arizona Temple's stained-glass windows. The temple, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stands at 195 feet tall and 85,326 square feet. The structure, which took three years to complete, opened in early 2014 and was open for public tours for about a month before being formally dedicated that March. David Kadlubowski/The Republic, David Kadlubowski/The Republic

Construction continued on the Gilbert Arizona Temple on Sept. 20, 2012. The temple, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stands at 195 feet tall and 85,326 square feet. The structure took three years to complete before it opened in early 2014. Charlie Leight/The Republic

The Gilbert Arizona Temple, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stands at 195 feet tall and 85,326 square feet. The structure, which took three years to complete, opened in early 2014 and was open for public tours for about a month before being formally dedicated that March. Charlie Leight/The Republic

The Gilbert Arizona Temple, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stands at 195 feet tall and 85,326 square feet. The structure, which took three years to complete, opened in early 2014 and was open for public tours for about a month before being formally dedicated that March. Charlie Leight/The Republic

There are 50,000 pieces of cut glass in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints’ Gilbert Arizona Temple. The agave motif is seen in both the stained glass windows and the structure. The temple opened in 2014 after three years of construction. Charlie Leight/The Republic

Wayne and Pat Miller, temple service missionaries, stand on an observation deck to view the Gilbert Arizona Temple's construction. At scheduled times, the Millers were available to answer questions about the building, which was about 20 percent complete at the time of this photo. Srianthi Perera/Special for The Republic

The Gilbert Arizona Temple, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stands at 195 feet tall and 85,326 square feet. The structure, which took three years to complete, opened in early 2014 and was open for public tours for about a month before being formally
dedicated that March. David Kadlubowski/The Republic

The Gilbert Arizona Temple, owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stands at 195 feet tall and 85,326 square feet. The structure, which took three years to complete, opened in early 2014 and was open for public tours for about a month before being formally dedicated that March. Cheryl Evans/The Republic

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Exposing the claims

Bishop once served as president of LDS-founded Weber State University. He headed a Mormon Church mission in Argentina. He spent years as a professor at Brigham Young University, and wrote three books, one of them titled, "The Making of a Missionary."

In the interview and transcript, Bishop recites that legacy to the accuser, and says he hopes she will not expose him. That would devastate his family; it would embarrass the church. But he says he would understand if she went public, or took the recording to law enforcement.

The interviewer tells Bishop he has destroyed her life, and that her frustration festered to a point where she made threats to church officials, saying she had a gun and was trained to use it.

Woman: "You know what they told me? 'You're not entitled to an answer.' … I said, 'Really? Well, you know what? ... I know where that bastard lives, and I will shoot that bastard myself.' "

After Bishop apologizes, the woman speaks of being conflicted — weighing compassion against an obligation to accountability, and to other victims.

Woman: "This is a felony. Not just the ones that you have perpetrated ... And those women have no voice. So I struggle with, 'Do I want to be that voice? And is this enough?' ... I don't know."

The interview was recorded in December. Over ensuing weeks, those conflicts would unravel until the recording was posted online.

Woman: "I don't know how many (victims) there are. But, if this story went public, you would be the Harvey Weinstein, or whatever the hell his name is, of the Mormon church. True?"

Bishop: "I would be."

This week, LDS leaders issued an official statement acknowledging that the interviewer filed a complaint as far back as 2010.

No action was taken at the time, they said, because Bishop denied all charges and there was no evidence to corroborate the allegations.

The statement concluded that "serious and deeply disturbing" statements on the tape remain under investigation and, if proven, reflect "a tragic betrayal of our standards."

Bishop's family sees the allegations another way.

Joseph Bishop taught for years at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.(Photo: Rick Bowmer/Associated Press)

Under the influence

Greg Bishop, an attorney and son of the accused, contended the interview was conducted just days after his dad suffered a nearly fatal heart attack and surgery, and while he was under the influence of medications.

In a phone interview with The Arizona Republic, he said his father did not sexually abuse anyone, and seeming confessions have been misconstrued. Greg Bishop said his father is so conscientious that he viewed prurient thoughts as sinful, and as a sexual addiction.

"He is holding himself to a high standard," said the son, "and he wants to prepare to meet his God."

In one recorded sequence, the accuser asks about a young, female missionary who had moved into the Bishop family's home in Provo because she was struggling with trauma from prior sexual abuse.

Woman: "Did you molest her?"

Bishop: "Yes."

Greg Bishop noted that his father elaborates later in the interview, saying the woman had asked for a back rub. While complying with that request, the elder Bishop explains, things got "frisky" — the word is not clarified — "and that's all that ever happened."

The church statement confirmed that the woman had also made an accusation against Bishop in 2010, and was offered emotional support and counseling.

"Mr. Bishop’s local ecclesiastical leaders were contacted and they confronted him with her claims, which he denied, and local leaders did not feel they could pursue church discipline for Mr. Bishop," the church said.

The Salt Lake Temple is shown in Salt Lake City. The Mormon Church is investigating sexual-assault allegations against Joseph Bishop.(Photo: Rick Bowmer/Associated Press)

No charges, no settlement

Days after Joseph Bishop was interviewed by the 55-year-old woman, her attorney delivered a copy of the recording, sought a financial settlement, and spoke of public disclosure.

There was no settlement.

Meanwhile, a criminal complaint had been filed with BYU police, who interviewed Joseph Bishop at his Chandler home and presented findings to local prosecutors. No charges were lodged.

According to the police report, Bishop did recall having a meeting with a female missionary years ago. The police report said: "While talking to her he asked her to show him her breasts which she did.”

The police report ends with a message from a deputy county attorney in Utah advising detectives that he had "no reason to doubt the victim's disclosures, and would have likely prosecuted Mr. Bishop but for the expiration of the statute of limitations," which is four years in Utah.

Greg Bishop said his father did not remember making that statement to police.

He also said the accuser's background is relevant because it includes multiple rape claims, false police reports and other manipulations.

As recently as February, the woman was arrested in New Mexico on suspicion of identity theft. According to a police report, she used an ex-boyfriend's name and Social Security number to obtain utility services and to lease an apartment. Detectives obtained a phone recording wherein the woman posed as the ex-boyfriend, using his name, according to the police report. That case is pending.

Another police report, from South Carolina, describes a 1999 case in which the woman claimed she was pistol-whipped and locked in the trunk of a car by two men outside a restaurant where she had worked. Detectives learned she had been fired shortly before the incident and had made inquiries about the restaurant's security liability. They concluded she was dishonest and her report "unfounded."

In separate interviews with The Republic, the woman's former husband and another family member also questioned her motives and credibility.

On at least two additional occasions, they said, the woman reported being raped — once while on her Mormon mission in Washington, D.C.

The ex-husband, who is not named in this report so as not to reveal the woman's identity, said, "This is an insult, especially, to women who have gone through something like that and really have been hurt."

Greg Bishop said he supports the #MeToo movement but is trying to defend his father against a false charge.

"I'm living a nightmare," he said. "This is the dark side of #MeToo, where somebody wants to manipulate the system, has a history of doing it, and has been successful."

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Of the five temples in Arizona, with one more coming in Tucson, all but one have on top a golden figure pointed east. Hannah Gaber/azcentral.com

Accuser sees 'smear campaign'

In a brief phone conversation, the accuser said LDS Church lawyers had prepared an extensive dossier on her background. She refused to address specific allegations but said, "Some of it's true. A lot of it isn't."

The woman referred further questions to her attorney, Craig Vernon, who said trauma from sexual abuse led, in part, to his client's troubles. He would not address particular events except to acknowledge that she had fabricated the alleged rape in Washington, D.C.

"Like many survivors of sexual assault, she has struggled her entire life," Vernon said. "She has cried out for help. She has done things she regrets ... This has been a big smear campaign against my client."

Vernon said he is preparing a lawsuit and urged other women to come forward if they were victimized.

Interview provided to website

Amid investigations and settlement talks, the interview tape remained hidden until this week, when someone provided a copy to MormonLeaks, an online organization that pushes for transparency in the LDS Church.

Ryan McKnight, website founder, declined to identify the source, but said he has had no contact with Joseph Bishop's accuser.

McKnight, an ex-Mormon, said he posted the recording for public consumption because statements from an important ecclesiastic leader indicated "grossly inappropriate" conduct.

Friday afternoon, the site apparently was so inundated with users that it could not be accessed for a time. McKnight said a security feature makes it impossible to determine how many people have viewed the page.

At Joseph Bishop's house in Chandler, the visitor identified himself as another journalist hoping to conduct an interview — this time about what he had said in the recorded conversation.

The old man's smile vanished.

"Not going to happen," he said, ushering the reporter outside, where women chatted on a nearby tennis court and golfers practiced putting on a green.

The Mormon Temple, centerpiece of Temple Square in Salt Lake City, where the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is located. The family of Joseph Bishop vigorously denies the sexual-assault allegations against him.(Photo: Douglas C. Pizac/Associated Press)